Projectile.



\ n 4 --Patented Feb.f'25, |902. J. B. SEMPLE.

P R 0J E C T L E (Application md Nov. 1e, 1901.;

(No Model.)

ams PErEns aol, Puooammo., v'a

UNITED 'STATES PAT-ENT OFFICE.:

JOHN B. sEMPLE, or sEWIoxLEY,PENNSYLVANIA.

PROJECTILE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 694,032, dated February 25, 1902.

Application filed November 16, 1901- SerialNo. 82,520. (No model.)

of whichimprovements the followingis a specii scale.

ication.

My invention relates to improvements in igniting combustible material contained in or carried by a projectile either for the purpose of acting as a time-fuse to an explosive com' pound or forthe purpose of producing a luminous train to the projectile as it travels; and theobject of myimprovementisto provide for the utilization of the expansive force of a gas under pressure, such as that generated by the exploding charge in igniting the material contained in the chambers vreferred to.

The invention is hereinafter more fully described and claimed. f

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure l shows in longitudinal section a projectile With myimprovement applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a detail of a portion of Fig. 1 on an enlarged Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. l, showing a modification of my improvement; and Fig. 4 is anenlarged detail of a portion of the device shown in Fig. 3. v

In the practice of my invention the projectile is provided With a chamber 2, which contains anvignitible material, as an explosive or pyrotechnic compound. AAs shown in Figs. l and 3, the projectile is in place in a cartridge," and 3 indicates the charge,which by explosion projects the vprojectile from the gun.

Referring to Figs. land 2, it Will be seen that the combustible material does notentirely fill the chamber 2, so that in the rear of such material a chamber or space 4` is formed for the storage and expansion of gases, as hereinafter described, An igniting device consisting of a cap 5 and pin 6 is embedded in the combustible material, the pin projecting through a plate 7, resting on the combustible material, and designed toy protect the same as against injury. The cap 5 is lled with a material adapted to be ignited by'frig: tion, and the inner end of the pin 6 is preferably broadened, so as to form a wedgeshaped piece, and has its surface roughened,

so that when the pin is drawn out the material contained in thecap-Would be ignited,

yand thereby ignite the combustible material of the chamber. The pin 6 extends through a plate 8, bearing against the rear end of the projectile and completely closing the chamber 2. vThe pin is provided with a head 9, adapted to rest against the plate, and is thereby held as against inward movement. The head also servesl as a means for con- Anecting the pin to the plate 8, so that the made larger than the pin, so that gases 'may enter into Ithe cavity or chamber 4, forward of the plate 8, as shown-in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. "It Will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that When the propelling charge is ignited gases under a high pressure are formed'and that these gases will enter through the port 10 orother opening into the cavity or chamber 4, forward of the plate 8. As long as the pressures are equal on both sides of the plate (and these pressures will remain equal until the projectile reaches the forward end of the gun or has left the latter) the plate 8 Will remain stationary; but as soon as the pressure of the propelling-gases against the rear face of the plate S drops below the pressure in the cavity or chamber 4 forward of such plate the latter will be forced away from the projectile, carrying with it the pin 6. As the roughened portion of the latteris drawn through the friction compound in the cap 5 by the movement of theplate such com*- pound will be ignited and will in turn ignite the combustible charge in the chamber`2. It will be understood that ,the port 10 or other opening through which the gases enter the expansion-cavity is made quite small, so that When the gases in such cavity expand the expansion will be exerted suciently to dislodge the plate 8 before the entire volume of gas can escape through the port.

IOO

As shown in Figs. 3 and ft, the chamber 2 need not be arranged centrally within the projectile, and two or more chambers containing the combustible material may be employed, if desired. In lieu of the igniting mechanism shown in Figs. l and 2 the construction shown in Figs. 3 and 4 may be employed for igniting the combustible charge in the chamber or chambers 2. A chamber 4: for storage ot' pressure is formed in the rear end ofthe projectile and is connected by passages l1 with the chamber or chambers 2, containing the combustible material. The expansion-chamber 4 is closed by a cap or plate 8a, having a tubular extension 12, which will project into the chamber 4 and close the ends of the lateral passages 1l, extending from the storage-chamber, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4. It will bev observed that the plate S with its extension act as valves, normally closing the lateral passages. On the combustion of the propelling charge gases under ahigh pressure will enter this expansionchamber, and as soon as the pressures against the rear of the projectile and the plate 8 are relieved the gases within the chamber will expand and force the plate, with its extension, outwardly. This outward movement, however, is limited by a headed pin 6a, havingits inner end secured to the projectile, so that the extension l2 of the plate will not entirely leave the expansion-chamber, permitting a free escape of gas, but will move outward only a sufficient distance to permit the expanding gases to enter the lateral passages. Within thesepassages are arranged movable tiring pins or blocks 13, which will be forced outwardly by the expansion of the gases against the percussion-caps 14, which on explosion will ignite the combustible material contained in the chambers 2a. This combustible material is protected as against injury on the ignition of the propelling charge by means of covering-plates l5, which will be forced away as soon as the combustible material is ignited and permit the flames, if the material is a pyrotechnic compound, to extend out bef yond the rear end of the projectile, so that its course can be easily followed by the eye.

It will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that the material contained in the chambers 2 may be explosive in its nature and that time-fuses may be employed, such fuses being ignited by the devices heretofore described.

It is characteristic ot' my improvement that the expansive force of a gas or gaseous Huid stored in the projectile is utilized to operate the igniting devices as soon as the projectile is relieved of the pressure of the propelling charge.

I claim herein as my invention- 1. As an improvement in the art of igniting combustible charges in proj ectiles,the method herein described which consists in confining a portion ofthe gases generated by the combustion of the propelling charge, permitting such gases to expand and then by or through the expansion of such gases effecting the ignition of the combustible charge in the projectile, substantially as set forth.

2. A projectile provided with a chamber, a port for the entrance of gases into said chamber, a movable member adapted to be shifted by the expansion of the gases stored in said chamber, and anigniter-operated by said movable member, substantially as set forth.

3. A projectile provided with a chamber, a movable cover for said chamber, a port for the admission of gases into the chamber and an igniter connected to said cover, so as to be operated on the shifting of the cover by the expansion of the gases stored in said chamber, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN B. SEMPLE.

Witnesses:

DARWIN S. WoLcoTr,' F. E. GAITHER. 

